How to Start Journaling: 5 Tips for Beginners

Journaling has been a hot topic of the new year. As you see others picking up journaling, you may find yourself not knowing where to start. The art of journaling isn't always the easiest to master, but that's exactly why this blog is here! Hope you enjoy these 5 tips I have for starting a journal!

First.. What is Journaling?

Journaling is the practice of documenting your thoughts, emotions, experiences, or reflections in a dedicated journal, notebook, or digital medium. Developing a journaling habit can help you understand your emotions, grow, and become more self-aware. Due to these factors, journaling stands out as one of the most effective tools for personal development.

Journaling does not always mean neat, straight, and pretty. There is no right or wrong way to do it, and it is yours. There are many forms of journaling, which I will delve into in a different blog post!

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Tip #1 : Identify why you want to journal

Think about why you want to keep a journal. Whether it's to monitor your thoughts and emotions, set and monitor goals, unleash your creativity, gain a deeper understanding of your thoughts or emotions, or any other motive, understanding your purpose for journaling can help guide your writing and keep you motivated.

@dawninglove on ig

Tip #2 : Pick a journal

This can be anywhere from a simple notebook to a digital device. Choose something that you are comfortable with! If you enjoy writing down things, grab a notebook that you love and decorate it however you want. You do not need to feel obligated to go out and buy a journal. If you don't have a spare notebook or can't go out to buy a journal, just grab a piece of paper and a pen and start writing! If you prefer to type out your thoughts, go ahead and open up your device's 'Notes' app or download one. Try out different apps and find one you like! :)

There are different sizes of journals, and you may find it easier to journal in a bigger notebook than a smaller one, vice versa. Personally, I enjoy journaling in an a7 or a6 journal size which is fairly small. My favorite journal to use right now is 4.3 x 5.8 inches. I also like to use journals with grid paper! There is also blank, dotted, and lined so you just have to find out what works best for you.

Tip #3 : Find the time to journal and be consistent

In order to make journaling a habit, you have to start allocating time to journal. Choose a time of day to write in your journal. Maybe its in the mornings after you brush your teeth, or at night before you get ready for bed. Maybe its twice a week when you have free time. Experiment with different times of the day and find out what works best for you! You can set reminders for yourself to journal at a specific time of day to make it a habit. After a while, you won't have to be relying on reminders and you will subconsciously be reaching for your journal!

Also, any time you have a thought picking at your brain don't hesitate to write it in your journal! This especially has helped me a lot to get into the habit of journaling. The more you write, the more your brain will get used to it.

@offoffonoff2 on ig

Tip #4 : Try out different styles

As I mentioned earlier, there are many different types of journaling. I will make a guide to some techniques soon, but off the top of my head I can think of bullet journaling, scrapbooking, deco journaling, travel journaling, junk journaling, and much more! Don't be scared to test out the different styles because it will help you find the perfect one that suits you. Remember that your journal does NOT have to always be neat as it is your safe space for anything you want!

Don't feel as if you have to stick to one style as well! I personally have a bunch of journals where I do different types in each, but you can also combine them into one journal. Again, find out what works best for YOU!

@lostpalette on ig

@apapersky on ig

@amandarachlee on ig

@selenenen on ig

Tip #5 : Let go of judgement and be kind with yourself

The last tip I have is to journal for your eyes only and be kind with yourself. As easy as this tip sounds, I think that it is the hardest one to get used to when journaling. I cannot stress this advice enough! It is really really easy to become impatient with yourself and get frustrated when journaling, but just remember that it is okay to make mistakes and don't be afraid to restart. Be willing to adjust if something unexpected comes up.

my personal journal!